. d) L3 S) c; B; S 8 \, {! a5 _( L) MUntil now, bra sizes have followed a formula devised in America in 1935 . X' {- m3 ?9 p: z9 P1 p ! M, N* T! [& i7 F+ M1 k9 [7 h# b$ W! f0 O% u# r4 P
Bra scientists find formula for that perfect fit 2 D; x0 S/ I& s- s/ Y) F( iCurvy women could soon find a bra revolution making life slightly more comfortable. " Z2 b# @' O# B/ l: n8 _ D5 a4 {% C; q' H; M9 a
Curvy women could soon find a bra revolution making life slightly more comfortable. % c) V/ x1 E# B% B: g c F" N8 U j2 o& i5 ]
Until now, bra sizes have followed a formula devised in America in 1935. "Alphabet" bras were born - advertised then as A cup (youthful); B cup (average); C cup (large); and D cup (heavy).8 y5 O r' M3 P4 h' f( h3 s7 q
The Hong Kong team's system follows 3D scanning of 456 Chinese women. $ q. s' R4 u' J- Q% d0 D# F8 m# x; s' I1 [" T2 ?
The researchers' 100 measurements have been honed down to just eight factors to describe the breast shape - overall build, breast volume, inner, outer and lower breast shape, height, and gradient and orientation. 1 G; h" ~3 u9 M; t, _3 e/ h3 I- W( Y) a M. N
Currently, they say, the size and volume of a B cup on a small ribcage, for example, is different from that on a large chest. It could correspond not only to a 34B, but sometimes to a 32C or a 36A. . y$ J$ f& T. S9 w % X i0 g2 o# j! W- v1 Q3 i) Q: \By using the DWR method, they aim to increase the number of existing bra sizes by between eight and 16 size combinations - offering more choice to women. % R8 x6 g, E* D9 B1 Z# i: E" j+ Z$ N' \* ^( D6 k3 k+ B% H
"This is the first time that a bra-sizing system protocol has been proposed based on 3D nude breast characteristics," they say. "Besides the intimate apparel industry, the new breast sizing system may be applied in the medical field to identify the breast size for plastic surgery or other apparel product development." ( I K+ _ F$ o+ B+ Q 6 _: Y" G( @1 P) Z $ w5 N2 H! A) q# t. I. H. B8 w! X